Compare towns
Ira vs Fair Haven vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Castleton has the most people working from home (6.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ira | Fair Haven | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381Lowest |
2,724 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Ira and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52 24% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146Highest 18% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.4% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #66 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.